Residue monitoring system for an agricultural harvester and agricultural harvester

Abstract

A monitoring system for a combine harvester. The monitoring system includes a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to a flow of crop residue on the harvester and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue. The monitoring system further includes a processor having an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave. The processor is configured to determine a crop parameter associated with the density of the flow of crop based on the response signal of the sensor. The processor further has an output terminal for outputting a density signal representing the crop parameter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A monitoring system for a combine harvester comprising a straw hood with a ramp, the monitoring system comprising:
 a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to a flow of crop residue as the crop residue progresses on the ramp of the straw hood and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue as the crop residue progresses on the ramp of the straw hood; and 
 a processor having an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave, the processor configured to determine a crop parameter associated with a density of the flow of crop residue based on the response signal of the sensor, the processor further comprising an output terminal for outputting a density signal based on the crop parameter. 
 
     
     
       2. The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the response wave originates from at least one of a top surface of the flow of crop residue on the ramp of the straw hood and a surface of the ramp of the straw hood. 
     
     
       3. The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the measurement wave to the flow of crop residue and a receiver configured to receive the response wave from the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       4. The monitoring system according to  claim 3 , wherein the transmitter is configured to output an ultrasonic pulse as the measurement wave, the receiver being configured to receive, as the response wave, a response of the ultrasonic pulse after impacting the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       5. The monitoring system according to  claim 3 , wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured in a transmissive operating mode or a reflective operating mode. 
     
     
       6. The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a velocity sensor configured to generate a velocity signal representing a velocity of the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       7. The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the crop parameter comprises a layer thickness of the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       8. The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an operating parameter of the combine harvester and determine a volume of the flow of crop residue based on the operating parameter of the harvester and the response signal. 
     
     
       9. The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an intake parameter representing a weight per unit of time of the crop harvested. 
     
     
       10. A combine harvester, comprising:
 a header for harvesting a crop of a field; 
 a threshing system for separating a crop residue from the harvested crop; 
 a straw hood comprising a ramp for guiding a flow of crop residue towards the field; and 
 a monitoring system, comprising:
 a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to the flow of crop residue as the crop residue progresses on the ramp of the straw hood and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue as the crop residue progresses on the ramp of the straw hood; and 
 a processor comprising an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave, the processor configured to determine a crop parameter associated with a density of the flow of crop residue based on the response signal of the sensor, the processor further comprising an output terminal for outputting a density signal based on the crop parameter. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The combine harvester according to  claim 10 , wherein the response wave originates from at least one of a top surface of the flow of crop residue on the ramp of the straw hood and a surface of the ramp of the straw hood. 
     
     
       12. The combine harvester according to  claim 10 , wherein, during use, the flow of crop residue is arranged between the sensor and the straw hood. 
     
     
       13. The combine harvester according to  claim 10 , further comprising a control unit for controlling an operating parameter of the threshing system, the control unit comprising:
 a second input terminal for receiving the density signal; 
 a second processor for processing the density signal and determining a control signal for the threshing system based on the density signal; and 
 a second output terminal for outputting the control signal to the threshing system to control the operating parameter. 
 
     
     
       14. The combine harvester according to  claim 13 , wherein the threshing system comprises a rotor that is at least partially enclosed by a perforated concave, the operating parameter being a position of the concave relative to the rotor or a velocity of the rotor. 
     
     
       15. The combine harvester according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the measurement wave to the flow of crop residue and a receiver configured to receive the response wave from the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       16. The combine harvester according to  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter is configured to output an ultrasonic pulse as the measurement wave, the receiver being configured to receive, as the response wave, a response of the ultrasonic pulse after impacting the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       17. The combine harvester according to  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured in a transmissive operating mode or a reflective operating mode. 
     
     
       18. The combine harvester according to  claim 10 , wherein the monitoring system further comprising a velocity sensor configured to generate a velocity signal representing a velocity of the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       19. The combine harvester according to  claim 10 , wherein the crop parameter comprises a layer thickness of the flow of crop residue. 
     
     
       20. The combine harvester according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an intake parameter representing a weight per unit of time of the crop harvested.